Getting back on the fitness wagon is a challenging task for many reasons. Your body may be exhausted, thus, it strongly resists your efforts to return to Gold’s Gym for more punishment. Your mind also resists because of your deep feelings of discouragement and disappointment borne of your apparent failure to achieve your fitness goals.
But will you let these temporary feelings become permanent? Well, you shouldn’t because your mind and body will definitely appreciate the health benefits of getting back on the fitness wagon! Keep these tips in mind and, soon enough, you will get there.
Deepen Your Understanding of Your Goals
You have to ask yourself, “Do I really understand my fitness goals – what these demand, how to achieve them, and why go after them in the first place?” If you don’t, then you have to consider whether such a lack of understanding contributed to your falling off the wagon.
Before you set your fitness goals, you have to do your research, check that your goals are both achievable and reasonable, and determine your motivation, among others. Just don’t say, “I want to lose 20 kilos in the next three months”, and then leave it at that because you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
Ask for Professional Help
There’s no shame in acknowledging that you need assistance and in accepting it. You will find that getting back on the fitness wagon will be quicker and easier, if not more sustained, when you have somebody there to provide support, guidance and even tough love.
There’s also the fact that most of us aren’t great in judging our own ability and capacity. Thus, an outsider can provide useful insights into your expectations and performance.
Of course, you can choose from among your family and friends to become your exercise buddy – and we recommend it, too, because an exercise buddy has several benefits. But if you have the money, you should consider hiring a personal trainer with experience in your fitness goals.
Go for the Middle Ground
There’s also no shame in going for the middle ground. After all, moderation in life is a sensible path to take –it’s neither going for the mediocre nor going for absolute perfection, both of which can also lead to disappointment and discouragement.
You can instead plan for making mistakes up to 20% of the time. This is real life, not to mention that you can chalk up your inability to hit your mark today to the 20% allowance. You can do better next time so you can cut yourself some slack instead of being discouraged all over again.